Group 1: George Russell, Zhou Guanyu, Logan Sargeant, Kevin Magnussen and Lance Stroll.
I really feel we should always begin with the person of the second. Zhou Guanyu, you have got simply re-signed with Alfa Romeo for 2024. The information has simply damaged. Can we get your ideas?Zhou Guanyu: Yeah, firstly, very glad to be clearly persevering with with the Alfa Romeo staff. And I really feel just like the work that has been performed previously and in addition the belief between the staff additionally from my facet is being extraordinarily, for instance, properly and clear collectively. So simply very glad to be lastly introduced in Singapore. I feel final 12 months I introduced right here as properly to proceed for this season. So yeah, actually glad and thrilling for the place the staff is heading and to be taking extra into this undertaking, you recognize, for the long run. So yeah, hopefully we will begin off the weekend in a great way.
Begin off this weekend in a great way, however what are your ambitions for 2024 with the staff? ZG: We will be collaborating into the long run growth on subsequent 12 months’s automobiles. I imply, the staff is already beginning on that undertaking. However figuring out me, staying within the staff, I can positively put much more effort into that and guiding collectively the blokes on the manufacturing facility, with Valtteri, collectively, to be sure that all the pieces is on track and to enhance the weak point of the automotive and stay all of the robust factors. So yeah, I actually really feel, you recognize, getting all the pieces performed right here, we will actually give attention to simply persevering with enhancing as a staff, as a bunch of individuals, and from my facet, simply actually glad to have the ability to settle extra into Components 1 and naturally, subsequent 12 months we’ve the house race, so I have been ready for that for 2 years already.
That is going to be particular is not it? ZG: I imply, it is a good place, and I feel it will likely be eternally a memorable weekend for me in Components 1, as a result of I grew up clearly watching, in 2004, the primary race. Again dwelling in China, it is 20 years and now we’re heading again subsequent 12 months. So it may be superb simply to meet up with the followers and with the individuals within the dwelling crowd.
Now, what about this weekend? You had been taken out final 12 months on this race, so we could not actually see what you could possibly do. What are your expectations this 12 months?ZG: Yeah, I keep in mind that. I used to be really ready quite a bit on the marshal publish, figuring out the pit lane was actually one minute stroll from that. However yeah, clearly final 12 months was not nice, I have not completed the Grand Prix right here. So this 12 months, I am actually wanting ahead to the brand new structure, to begin with, and alternatively, I do really feel that we’ve some bundle right here, so hopefully it is working accurately, for us a step stronger to our predominant rivals, rivals, and yeah, end the weekend off in a pleasant manner collectively.
Good luck this weekend. And congratulations once more on the brand new deal. George, can we come to you? Simply earlier than we got here on air, you had been telling us a couple of Padel competitors final night time. It is getting fairly aggressive among the many drivers. Who had been you with? George Russell: Yeah, it is getting very aggressive and bumping into a couple of acquainted faces. We reached out to the Padel, the native Padel courtroom right here, to see if we might get some courts after hours. The primary night time we did it was completely wonderful. The second night time they mentioned it is bought out after hours and after I arrived there I had Lance taking part in on the courtroom subsequent to me, then there was Lando and I taking part in after which on the opposite courtroom was Pierre and Antonio Giovinazzi. So Lando and I had an excellent battle. Three-two in units to staff Russell, so I used to be proud of that one.
Good day on the workplace. And naturally you’ve got been busy since we final noticed you at Monza. You took within the Rugby World Cup as properly. What was that have like?GR: Yeah, it was nice to see the opening sport of the rugby. It is a sport I observe quite a bit. I’ve at all times been to the Six Nations within the UK. I’d have liked to have seen England play however did not get the prospect to do this. However I used to be there with Ineos, watching the All Blacks and France go head-to-head and I used to be sat subsequent to Richie McCaw. In order that was an excellent expertise, clearly a rugby legend, and listening to his views on the sport and attending to know him.
Alright, properly, let’s carry it onto this weekend. Zhou talked about the adjustments to the monitor. What are your ideas on what’s been performed since final 12 months?GR: I feel it may make the race a bit extra thrilling. I feel Singapore is a extremely nice circuit to drive, nevertheless it’s a bit bit difficult to race on. And traditionally, it is solely actually been Flip 5, which has been an overtaking alternative, whereas now I hope perhaps into the brand new Flip 16 there will be one other likelihood. It will make it barely simpler bodily for us, as a result of it was clearly the longest race of the season by way of time length. So I feel the monitor will in all probability be 9 seconds or so faster this 12 months. So a bit shorter on Sunday. However as I mentioned much less enjoyable in quali, ought to be higher for the race.
What concerning the race? It was a tough one for Mercedes final 12 months. And for those who look again via the historical past books, it is a race the place the staff’s fortunes have fluctuated rather a lot. So what can we count on from you this weekend?GR: Final 12 months, we had a extremely quick automotive and sadly we did not profit from it throughout the weekend. However I feel it is so shut in the meanwhile between ourselves Ferrari and McLaren, Aston Martin are fluctuating in efficiency. Hopefully, we will shut the hole barely on Crimson Bull right here, on the excessive downforce circuit. So I feel it’s that battle for P2 on the street. However you are going to should nail each single element as a result of it may be by the smallest of margins.
Thanks, George. Logan, if we might come to you now. First time racing in Singapore. How excited are you?Logan Sargeant: Yeah, positively. I like an evening race to be trustworthy and I really feel prefer it’s a monitor… After I first began taking part in the F1 sport a very long time in the past, this was the monitor I at all times got here to. I do not know why. However it’s thrilling and I’ve at all times wished to drive right here. So I feel it may be a particular weekend.
Now, the warmth and the humidity are properly documented. How have you ever been making ready bodily?LSa: Effectively, I have been making ready as a lot as I can in scorching rooms. I really feel, I do not know, perhaps I have already got a bit benefit from Miami. However, no, I feel for essentially the most half, it hasn’t felt too dangerous but. I feel contemplating it is at night time as properly, it will be OK, I am positive. I would change my thoughts come Sunday afternoon. However no, I feel it will be OK. However we have positively been prepping for it barely otherwise.
And what concerning the automotive’s efficiency? It has been fast at Zandvoort and at Monza, two very completely different racetracks. Now that we’re again at a high-downforce circuit are you assured?LSa: Effectively, I imply, for those who have a look at the circuit on paper, it is not very best for us. , these corners which were faraway from the final sector truthfully, you recognize, play in our favour, however we’re not too positive. We’ll be optimistic about it, attempt to get the automotive in an excellent window. We had been fast in Zandvoort, which was excessive downforce. So hopefully we will hold that going and attempt to discover some tempo right here.
Now Logan, what about 2024 with you? The man in your proper has simply been confirmed. So the sport of driver musical chairs is coming to an finish. What have you ever been informed by Williams? What have you ever acquired to do to stick with the staff subsequent 12 months?LSa: Yeah, I feel, you recognize, from the staff facet and what I wish to see from my facet is simply fixed enchancment all through, from now till the tip of the season. , simply hold making steps ahead. And I really feel like I’ve made steps ahead, you recognize, beginning to ship laps after I must in qualifying and, you recognize, simply being extra managed and cozy. So I really feel like so long as I hold doing that, hold coming into these weekends as properly ready as I can. The objective is simply hold making steps ahead.
Ultimate one from me. Are they your team-mate’s sneakers that you simply’re carrying? Due to course Alex Albon has simply come out with a brand new vary.LSa: These are Jordans, so I am going to in all probability simply stick to those. However yeah, he has dropped some merch, which is cool. However I am going to persist with my J’s.
Alright. Effectively, Alex, for those who’re listening. Thanks and good luck to you, Logan, in your first weekend right here in Singapore. Kevin, coming to you now. Painful race final day trip for Haas, at Monza. You and Nico Hulkenberg, ending seventeenth and 18th. Had been your points worse than you had been anticipating at that monitor?Kevin Magnussen: Yeah, I feel we had been the weakest that we have been this 12 months, I feel, in Monza. It was tremendous tough for us in each qualifying and the race. So yeah, robust one to swallow. However we all know that we’ve been missing in growth all year long, I feel we began the 12 months in an honest spot, you recognize. We had been in a position to squeeze into the highest 10 on occasion. And, you recognize, different groups have simply made greater enhancements. Williams have made an enormous step ahead. And, you recognize, clearly McLaren has made a large step. However we’re ready for that step for us. , I feel there’s some attention-grabbing stuff happening within the background that we’d be capable to carry to the automotive this 12 months. And I am excited to see these issues get to the automotive and take a look at it out.
There’s speak of a B-spec automotive coming for Austin. Are you able to verify that?KM: No, I do not suppose I can verify that. However it’s actually, you recognize, lots of stuff that we’re attempting to carry to the automotive. Whether or not it is B-spec or not, I do not know. However it’s lots of stuff and it is thrilling.
In time for Austin? KM: Hopefully. I do not know precisely when it is as a consequence of arrive, however hopefully sooner fairly than later.
